Head of Operations - EAM

About the Firm

My client is expanding External Asset Manager (EAM) headquartered in Hong Kong, catering to High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs), Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), and single-family offices across Asia. As they establish their HQ in Hong Kong, they are seeking an entrepreneurial, hands-on Head of Operations to build their operational infrastructure, licensing frameworks.

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer / Managing Partners, the Head of Operations will be the foundational hire responsible for designing, implementing, and running the entire operational framework of the firm. You will take ownership of the firm’s operational setup— from licensing applications (SFC Type 4/9) and custodian onboarding to trade lifecycle management, IT infrastructure, and vendor selection.

Key Responsibilities

1. Firm Setup, Licensing & Infrastructure (Ground-Up Build)

• Lead the end-to-end operational setup of the EAM platform, partnering with external legal, compliance, and corporate secretarial firms to secure necessary HK regulatory licenses (SFC Type 4 & Type 9).

• Evaluate, select, and implement core EAM technology platforms, including Portfolio Management Systems (PMS), Order Management Systems (OMS), CRM, and reporting tools.

2. Client Onboarding, Account Opening & KYC/AML

• Design and execute end-to-end client onboarding workflows for private clients across Hong Kong, ensuring compliance with local KYC, AML, and cross-border regulatory rules.

• Coordinate multi-custodian account openings for clients, serving as the main operational contact between private banks, relationship managers (RMs), and end- clients.

3. Trade Lifecycle, Settlement & Portfolio Operations

• Oversee trade execution, allocation, and post-trade processing across multi-asset classes (Equities, Fixed Income, Funds, Structured Products, FX, and Private Markets).

• Establish daily cash management, asset reconciliation, corporate actions, and expense calculation/billing processes across multiple custodian bank feeds.

• Resolve trade breaks, settlement failures, and operational exceptions efficiently.

4. Regional Governance, Risk & Vendor Management

• Formulate and document standard operating procedures (SOPs), operational risk matrices, and business continuity plans (BCP) tailored to an agile EAM environment.

• Manage third-party vendors, including IT service providers, compliance consultants, audit firms, and platform vendors.

• Prepare operational reporting and MI dashboards for management and regulatory authorities as required.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum 8–10+ years of operations/middle-office experience within Wealth Management, Private Banking, Asset Management, or Multi-Family Offices.

• Track Record: Proven prior experience in setting up or scaling an External Asset Manager (EAM) or Independent Wealth Management firm in Hong Kong is strictly required.

• Licensing Knowledge: Deep familiarity with Hong Kong SFC regulatory standards (Type 4 & 9) and operational compliance frameworks.

• Custodian & PMS Expertise: Direct experience managing relationships with private bank EAM desks (HK/SG).

• Language Skills: Fluent English